At least 6 dead and over 60 injured in New York explosion

A gas leak triggered the explosion in East Harlem yesterday

At least two people were killed and 18 injured when a gas leak explosion flattened two apartment buildings in the East Harlem neighbourhood of New York City.The death toll could still rise as emergency services search for missing people.

Two buildings collapsed after an an explosion believed to be caused by a gas leak in New York yesterday. Photograph: Brendan McDermid/Reuters

A sixth person has been confirmed killed by an explosion that flattened two New York City apartment buildings.

The body of an unidentified male was found in the rubble around 3.15am local time, a fire department spokesman said.

A half hour earlier, a woman’s body had been found.

A gas leak triggered the explosion yesterday morning on Park Avenue and 116th Street in East Harlem.

The blast also injured more than 60 people. At least three of the injured were children.

The explosion shattered windows a block away, cast a plume of smoke over the skyline and sent people running into the streets.

Authorities said the blast erupted about 9.30am local time, about 15 minutes after a neighbouring resident reported smelling gas.